I did not write one syllable of Hall’s book. When first he showed me his manuscript, I told him it would not do; it was too witty and brilliant. He then wrote it over again, and I told him it would do very well indeed; and it has done very well. He is a very painstaking person.
I am very sorry I have not a single copy left of my first Assize Sermon. I thought I had sent you a copy: I would immediately send you another, if I had one to send.
You will see an article of mine in this Review, No. 80, upon America. Lady Suffolk’s Letters, in No. 79, were reviewed by Agar Ellis.
I hear your sister is going with a multitude of Berrys and Lindsays to Scotland. I hope she will be retained if we get leave to visit your papa.
If you mean that my article itself is light and scanty,
| 242 | MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH. |
I am very sorry there should be any mistake as to the day; but in the negotiation between the higher powers—Mrs. Davenport and Mrs. Sydney—the day mentioned was from the 15th to dinner, till the morning of the 17th. You will smile at this precision; but I find, from long experience, that I am never so well received, as when I state to my host the brief duration of his sorrows and embarrassments. Upon the same principle, young speakers conciliate favour by declaring they do not mean to detain the House a long time.
Great expectations are formed of your speech. The report is, that you apostrophize the Shades of Hampden and Brutus. —— has a beautiful passage on the effects of freedom upon calico. Sir John Stanley will take that opportunity of refuting Locke and Malebranche; it will be a great day. J—— W—— will speak of economy from the epergne.
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I am just come from a visit to Lord Fitzwilliam, that best of old noblemen! I was never there before. Nothing could exceed his kindness and civility. The author of the ‘Paradise Lost’ was there also. I am surprised that I had heard so little of the magnificence of Wentworth House. It is one of the finest buildings I ever saw—twice as great a front as Castle Howard! And how magnificent is the hall!
I took Fouché’s Memoirs for genuine; but I have nothing to refer to but ignorant impressions.
Dear Lady M——! I have more tenderness for Lady M—— than it would be ecclesiastical to own; but don’t mention it to Lord Grey, who is fond of throwing a ridicule upon the cloth. In the meantime, Lady M—— is the perfection of all that is agreeable and pleasant in society.
I have sent to Bishop Doyle a list of errors commonly and unjustly imputed to the Catholics, and more and more believed for want of proper contradiction, requesting him to publish and circulate a denial of them signed by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. It would be a very useful paper for general circulation. He writes word it shall be done. God bless you, dear Lady Grey!
I will send you a sheet for this number upon allow-
| 244 | MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH. |
A good article upon the Church of England, and upon the Court of France, and in general a very good number. Ever, my dear Jeffrey, most sincerely yours,
Political economy has become, in the hands of Malthus and Ricardo, a school of metaphysics. All seem agreed what is to be done; the contention is, how the subject is to be divided and defined. Meddle with no such matters. Write the lives of the principal Italian poets, of about the same length as Macdiarmid’s ‘Lives,’ mingling criticism and translation with biography: this is the task I assign you.
The Berrys are
slowly rising in this part of the world; I hear of them eighty miles off, and
their track begins to be pointed out. People are out on the hills with their
glasses. I have written to ask them to Foston. Our visit succeeded very well at
Knowsley. The singing of the children was admired, and we all found Derbus and Derbe very kind and
attentive. What principally struck me was the magnificence of
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I am sorry to hear you are likely to have the gout again. Let it be a comfort to you to reflect, that I, who have no gout, have not an acre of land upon the face of the earth.
No Roman vase: we are not worthy—it is out of our line. I have read over your letter again. If the object in writing essays on political economy is to amuse yourself, of course there can be no objection; but my opinion is (and I will never deceive in literary matters), you will do the other much better. If you have a mind for a frolic over the mountains, you know how glad I shall be to see you.
I cannot help writing a line to thank you for your obliging note. I hope one day or other (wind and weather permitting) to pay my respects to Lady Crewe and you, at Crewe Hall, of goodly exterior, and, like a York pie, at this season filled with agreeable and interesting contents.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cunliffe my kind remembrances, if you please. I cannot trust myself with a message to Mrs. Hopwood, but shall be very much obliged to your Lordship to frame one, suitable to my profession, worthy of its object, and not forgetful of my feelings; let it be clerical, elevated, and tender.
| 246 | MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH. |
P——’s single turnips turned out extremely well; he is about to publish a tract “On the Effect of Solitude on Vegetables.”
I remain, dear Lord Crewe, very truly yours,
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